Get your spook on

A rundown of what’s on offer at bars and clubs around Taipei in the week leading up to Halloween

By Olivia Wycech / Contributing reporter

Thu, Oct 24, 2013 - Page 12

Halloween in Taipei is on par with New Year’s Eve in the magnitude of celebrations, and our list of events is growing each year. Whether you’re on a budget or looking for something specific, you’ll be sure to find it in this year’s guide to Halloween in Taipei. If you’re wondering why The Loop’s annual Halloween Massive party isn’t listed, don’t worry it hasn’t gone anywhere. The party happens next weekend, and Vinyl Word will give you the complete rundown then.

TOMORROW

The combination of costumes, cocktails and celebrations can make Halloween a rather costly occasion, which doesn’t make it particularly appealing to the thousands of international students living in Taipei. Mysterious: Halloween 2013 costs significantly less than other parties. The tunes are international too, including house, reggae and Latin music. There is a costume contest with prizes ranging from booze to hookah, and also a pole dancing performance.

■ Tomorrow from 9:30pm to 4am at 1001 Nights Hookah Lounge Bar, 8, Nanjing East Rd Sec 5, Taipei City (台北市南京東路五段8號). Advanced tickets are NT$300 and includes two drinks. Admission at the door is NT$500.

The W Hotel is always a nice place to hang out regardless of the occasion, but they’ve really stepped it up a notch with The Rocky Horror Picture Show-themed costume party. And because it’s the W, prizes are lavish, including room and restaurant vouchers. Be sure to check out the cult movie for some great Halloween costume ideas — you only have one day to do so.

■ Tomorrow night at the W Hotel, 10, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 5, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路五段10號). Admission is NT$600 and includes one drink.

SATURDAY

Every time that Frog in a Sock throws an event, they do it with the single goal of making every year better. Their parties may not be in a club but they embody a club vibe — but without any terrible club music. In fact, they are so good at hand-picking some of the nation’s top talent, they don’t have to rely on international acts to draw in the 1,500 people that their Resurrection Halloween parties average.

This year, they’ve shifted their focus to visuals and have invited Screen Shark to create a unique visual experience utilizing the latest in image-mapping technology. The first-place winner of Resurrection’s costume party will take home NT$10,000. Runners-up will win tickets to Luxy’s Halloween Massive. Live bands, an assortment of DJs, a ton of very cool people and cheap drinks make Resurrection IV the place to be during this spooky season.

■ Saturday from 9:30pm to 4:30am at the Red House Theater (西門紅樓), 177 Xining S Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧南路177號). Advanced tickets are available at all iBon/FamiPort outlets for NT$700; tickets at the door are NT$900. Both fares include one drink.

Kudos to Liquid Lifestyle for always coming up with interesting and unique ideas. They’ve once again dreamed up something quite original and Halloween this year is a tribute to the prim and proper style of the British. They’re asking everyone to come dressed as their favorite Brit, whether Austin Powers, Victoria Beckham or Queen Victoria.

Myst is revamping their interior to resemble an enchanted cursed forest and enticing Halloween enthusiasts to dress up by offering them free entrance before midnight. Considering the space they have to work with and their reputation for creative decorating, expect big crowds and big decorations amid a magical theme.

■ Saturday at Myst, 9F, 12, Songshou Rd, Taipei City (台北市松壽路12號9F). Those in costume get in for free before midnight; NT$1,000 for everyone else. Two drink tickets are included with the entrance fee.

The Xinyi District (信義區) is always a good choice for any holiday celebration because of the options available. Probably the best party of them all happens on the rooftop of Room18 and Barcode. The only problem is, it fills up fast and the lineup is long. But this year, the deal is pretty sweet and as long as you secure a pre-sale ticket you’ll get in, enjoy an open bar, and get into Room18 afterwards with a few more drinks too. Without that pre-sale ticket, however, you probably won’t get in.

The rooftop party happens early, so it’s a great way to start your night. The theme this year is borrowed from the popular children’s board game called Candy Land, and the rooftop decor will elaborately resemble most of your childhood memories. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, watch Katy Perry’s music video for California Gurls, throw on a wig and head on down to Candy Land.

■ Saturday at Room18, B1, 88 Songren Rd, Taipei City (台北市松仁路88號B1). The rooftop party runs from 10pm to midnight, and Room18 is open from 10pm to 4:30am. Pre-sale tickets are NT$600 and include entrance to the rooftop party and Room18 afterwards. Tickets are available at Room18 or Barcode until the end of tomorrow night. Tickets at the door are NT$1,000 and do not include entrance to the rooftop party.

The Brass Monkey is always a sure bet to meet that special gal or guy — and they make it really easy. First of all, girls in costume get to drink free cocktails and Savanna Cider from 9pm to midnight. There is much motivation to costume up as the best dressed will walk away with NT$10,000. Two more cash prizes of NT$5,000 will be awarded for the sexiest costume.

■ Saturday night at 9pm at the Brass Monkey, 166 Fuxing N Rd, Taipei City (台北市復興北路166號). Ladies in costume can enjoy free admission and free drinks between 9pm and midnight, but will be charged NT$150 without costume, which includes a drink. Admission for men in costume is NT$300 and includes two drinks. Admission for men without costume is NT$450 and includes three drinks.

OCTOBER 30TH

Liquid Lifestyle is going strong this Halloween with The Roaring 20s. They are taking advantage of their regular mid-week mayhem that happens at Luxy every Wednesday as an opportunity to transform the Galleria into the Great Gatsby. The theme is the 1920s, so when planning your costume, think prosperity, prohibition, jazz and speakeasies before ghosts and goblins. The first prize for costuming is NT$10,000, and second and third prizes include booze and Luxy money. Because it’s ladies night, admission is cheap if not free for all, but they would like to remind you that full costuming and full effort is required.

■ Oct. 30 from 10pm to 4am at Luxy, 5F, 201 Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段201號5樓). Admission for woman in full costume is free all night and NT$400 with two drinks for those not dressed up. Admission for men in full costume is free before midnight, and NT$800 including two drinks for those not in costume.